Just like the other victim posted here from Magnolia, TX, two young looking people, a man and woman, approached me as I gardened in my front yard. They came walking down the street as if they lived in the neighborhood, mentioned a (fictious) neighbors name who had referred them to me. They claimed to be home schoolers just wanting to practise their communication skills.
I can now see they had a carefully rehearsed and practiced con and employed a well thought out (if not designed by a Psych Prof) confidence building skills to establish intimacy such as getting me to "high 5 them" (ie touching); later escalating to just wanting to "give me a hug". After several minutes of talk and building rapor with me, they describe a contest they are in where they win points depending on what they find out about me. 1,000 points if I've been in the military, another 1,000 points if I've been in the police. I just would not believe how many points they've earned talking to me. They are in a contest and they are in the lead. Out comes the laminated brouchure with magazines. Wouldn't I like to buy some magazines? They get more points if I donate them to veterns in VA hospitals.in fact, if I would just buy 10 magazines right now, they will automatically win the contest!
But I wouldn't cancel the check would I? I'd be surprised how many people do that. They don't get any points and won't win a trip if I cancel the check... Wouldn't I go to an ATM and get them cash? (And very freakily they ask me if they can ACCOMPANY ME IN MY CAR TO GO TO THE ATM!!!?)— After paying for magazines with cash, I notice the receipt says Rockstar Subscriptions, no email adddress, no phone number, not even fully filled out. Since I was so much help re: the contest, they want to put stickers on my door so other contestants won't bother me since I have already purchased from them. BTW upon inspections stickers turn out to say "Just keep knockin', Liliana & David are rockin"
Even after getting a substantial amount of cash, Liliana and David don't want to leave. They offer to help me with yard work, and say "don't I have anything to drink in there? (ie my house)—stalling techniques because they don't want to leave money on the table! After all, so far, I've been a dream mark. David calls out wouldn't I like to buy some magazines for myself? No. Now they go. Liliana will send me a postcard from Australia.
Don't be the total smuck I was. Don't even talk to these people. They are skillful con artists, baby faces or no.
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